A report of the Public Health Authority in England said today that those who are obese or overweight are at a greater risk of death or severe morbidity if they develop coronavirus Covid-19.
The Public Health Authority in England stated that the data showed that those with a BMI between 30 and 35 increased the risk of death with Covid-19 by 40 percent, while the percentage increased to 90 percent among those with a BMI above 40.
People with a BMI of more than 30 are classified as obese. The Public Health Authority said nearly 63 percent of adults in England were overweight or obese.
"The current evidence clearly shows that being overweight or obese increases the risk of serious illness or death due to Covid-19 or many other life-threatening diseases," said Alison Destston, chief nutritionist at the Public Health Authority.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has pledged to tackle the obesity problem, and he himself has dumped some kilograms since he entered intensive care after he was infected with Covid-19 caused by infection with the Corona virus.
Johnson said on Friday that people should lose weight, and reports indicated that this week restrictions could be imposed on the advertisement of unhealthy foods.
Susan Gibb, a professor of dietetics and population health at Oxford University, said he was pleased to see Johnson acknowledge the extent of the public health crisis Britain is facing with regard to the issue of obesity.
"This matter has emerged because of Covid-19. This is an issue that we have known for some time, but it never reached the top of the government's priority list of actions," said Gibb.